It was a good month, as I whipped through a few different 28mm projects and added to my 15mm French Napoleonics. This was my August painting:
15mm Napoleonic French, 96 line infantrymen
28mm Carthaginians, 30 spearmen
28mm Gauls, 18 naked warriors
28mm Marian Romans, 72 legionaries
I really need to come up with some sort of scale equivalency calculator. Last month I was very disappointed to only finish 216 figures. This month I feel like 216 figures was a huge accomplishment. Mostly, I think, that's because all my figures this month required a huge amount of detail work. When I painted the 72 Marian legionaries, for example, I also painted 81 shields. Each one of those shields took as long to paint as one 15mm figure. Each Roman without his shield took about as long as three 15mm figures. Each Carthaginian, with personal designs on armor and shield, took about as long as five 15mm figures.
Maybe I should try something like professional painting services use, only instead of shifting prices, I'll use "Scott Painting Points" (SPPs). I'll take the basic 15mm figure as my starting point, something like ACW infantry with a block paint job, and adjust from there.
1 basic 15mm figure = 1 SPP
1 advanced 15mm figure = 1.5SPPs
1 basic 10mm figure = 0.5 SPPs
1 basic 28mm figure = 3SPPs
1 advanced 28mm figure = 4SPPs
1 basic 28mm shield = 0.5 SPPs
1 advanced 28mm shield = 1 SPP
So last month I finished 100 10mm ACW Confederates for 50 SPPs, 92 28mm ACW Federals (pretty much the definition of a "basic" figure) for 276 SPPs, and 24 15mm French Napoleonics (definitely "advanced" 15mm) for 36 SPPs. That gave me a total of 362 SPPs.
Now for this month. I count the Gauls and Romans as basic 28s and the Carthaginians as advanced. That gets me 390 SPPs for the men. The Gallic shields were pretty basic, but the Roman and Carthaginian shield were advanced. That's another 120 SPPs. The French Napoleonics count as advanced 15mm, so they net me another 144 SPPs.
All told, I painted 654 SPPs worth of figures this month, compared to 362 SPPs last month. Those numbers reflect my production much more accurately than mere figure count.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Flames of War Army for Sale!
UPDATED: SOLD! (But feel free to enjoy the pictures.)
I'm selling my Flames of War mid-war German grenadier company with support. This is the army that Battlefront sold as a box set for their Stalingrad supplement. I'm also including a pack of Battlefront German snipers which I painted for this army. The unpainted figures sold for $162.
The company includes:
1 Command Group with CiC, 2iC, and spotter
2 rifle platoons with 2 platoon leaders, 2 50mm mortar teams, and 16 rifle sections
1 heavy machinegun platoon with 1 platoon leader and 4 MG-34 teams
1 medium mortar platoon with 1 platoon leader, 1 spotter, and 4 81mm mortar teams
1 infantry gun section with 1 section leader and 75mm infantry gun teams
1 antitank gun section with 1 section leader, 2 50mm antitank gun teams, and three transport vehicles
1 sniper platoon with 3 sniper teams and "Major Konig"
1 assault gun section with 2 StuG IIIFs and 2 bailed out markers
1 assault gun section with 2 SiG 133s and 2 bailed out markers
This army includes 7 painted vehicles, 4 painted guns, 4 painted heavy machineguns, 4 painted medium mortars, and 167 painted figures. All figures are mounted on well flocked FOW bases.
The storage container, buildings, and terrain mat are pictured for reference only and are NOT for sale.
Click on any of the pictures below to get larger images. I tried to get good pictures that showed the quality of the paint jobs. If you would like to see anything in more detail, please email me and I'll snap some more pictures.
I'm selling my Flames of War mid-war German grenadier company with support. This is the army that Battlefront sold as a box set for their Stalingrad supplement. I'm also including a pack of Battlefront German snipers which I painted for this army. The unpainted figures sold for $162.
The company includes:
1 Command Group with CiC, 2iC, and spotter
2 rifle platoons with 2 platoon leaders, 2 50mm mortar teams, and 16 rifle sections
1 heavy machinegun platoon with 1 platoon leader and 4 MG-34 teams
1 medium mortar platoon with 1 platoon leader, 1 spotter, and 4 81mm mortar teams
1 infantry gun section with 1 section leader and 75mm infantry gun teams
1 antitank gun section with 1 section leader, 2 50mm antitank gun teams, and three transport vehicles
1 sniper platoon with 3 sniper teams and "Major Konig"
1 assault gun section with 2 StuG IIIFs and 2 bailed out markers
1 assault gun section with 2 SiG 133s and 2 bailed out markers
This army includes 7 painted vehicles, 4 painted guns, 4 painted heavy machineguns, 4 painted medium mortars, and 167 painted figures. All figures are mounted on well flocked FOW bases.
The storage container, buildings, and terrain mat are pictured for reference only and are NOT for sale.
Click on any of the pictures below to get larger images. I tried to get good pictures that showed the quality of the paint jobs. If you would like to see anything in more detail, please email me and I'll snap some more pictures.
The whole army packed for storage
German armor: 2 StuG III Fs and 2 SiG 133s
Bail-out markers mounted on pennies
Close-up of command SiG 133
Another close-up of command SiG 133
SiG 133
Top view of both SiG 133s showing the extra stowage
Front view of both SiG 133s
Another close-up of the SiG 133s
Detail of SiG 133
StuG IIIF
StuG IIIF command
Top view of both StuG IIIFs showing stowage
Front view of both StuG IIIFs
Detail of StuG IIIF
Detail of command StuG IIIF
Soft transport for the AT gun section
Close-up of commander's car
Close-up of gun towing cars
Another close-up
Attached guns include a 75mm infantry gun section and a 50mm AT gun section, each with command stands
75mm infantry guns
50mm AT guns
Close-up of 75mm gun command team with scratch-built radio
Company command includes 1 CiC, 1 2iC, and one spotter for the 75mm guns
Company commander
Second in command
Mortar platoon includes four mortar teams, a spotting team, and a command stand (not pictured)
Mortar team
Spotter with scratch built radio
Rear view of mortar platoon
Machine gun platoon includes four MG34 teams and a command stand
Close-up of command and MG team
Close-up of MG-34 team
Both rifle platoons
Each platoon has one command stand, 8 rifle section stands, and one 50mm mortar team
Second platoon
Close-up of riflemen
Close-up of 50mm mortars
A rifle squad
Rear view of rifle squad
Snipers!
Close-up of snipers
German sniper--"Major Konig"
German sniper--"Major Konig"
I'll be selling these rule books soon, but I can add them on to this army for an additional $60. I'm selling the original rule book, the updated rule book, the supplement for Stalingrad, and the supplement for German armor.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Maida, 1806
The gaming group got together today for a 25mm Napoleonics battle. We played through the 1806 battle of Maida twice, using Jon's Front Rank British army and my Old Glory French army. We used Jon's own rules, which are great for very small scale battles. The figure scale is 1:50, the ground scale is 1"=25 yards, and the time scale is 1 turn=15 minutes.
Jon umpired and took pictures. Austin and Don commanded the British, while Scott R. and I commanded the French. Click on any picture for a larger image.
Game 1 Initial Setup
The setup was the same for both games. The French had three brigades with five light and four line battalions, 1 regiment of light cavalry, and two sections of artillery. The two British brigades occupied the high ground with six battalions of infantry and four sections of artillery.
Game 1 The Whole Table
The French had a tough nut to crack. An advance right up the center would have to cover open ground devoid of any cover. Yet both British flanks were covered by terrain that would slow the French down and make it difficult to coordinate French attacks.
Game 1 Advance on the British Right / French Left
I commanded the largest French brigade and set out to pin the British right while Scott R. maneuvered against the British left. My legere battalions took a pounding from the British guns, but managed to keep Don's men occupied.
Game 1 French Attack the British Left
While I demonstrated, Scott R. sent a mixed brigade of infantry and cavalry on a long march against the British left. This left just three small French battalions facing the British line. Austin, in command of the British left, decided to attack! The British came down from their strong position, but the French infantry won the combat that ensued. As Austin's brigade fell back, Scott R.'s flanking force fell on the undefended guns. Here you can see French light cavalry taking the British leftmost battery.
Game 1 Heavy Skirmishing on the British Left
While Scott R. took Austin's position, I was heavily engaged with Don's British brigade. Here you can see the Corsican Rangers (95th Rifles) chewing up one of my legere battalions. Both regiments have skirmish screens deployed to their side. The preponderance of French skirmishers allowed us to disrupt many British battalions before the main lines ever engaged.
Game 1 Situation at the End
With their left flank dissolving and their right under heavy pressure, the British commanders decided to call the game. Here you can see the overall situation. Don's British brigade, on the French left, was still largely intact. The 95th rifles were engaged in a firefight with a French battalion, one other battalion had been forced back but was rallying, and the third battalion still held its position on the ridge line. Austin's brigade, on the French right, was in rougher shape. The British Guards battalion, seen here in the open plain, had pushed back two French battalions, but a third French battalion was squarely on their flank while the two defeated battalions rallied and prepared to renew the advance. Austin's second battalion (with the Portuguese colors) had rallied, but had lost four of its six stands. Austin's third battalion had routed off the table. Scott's flanking force was in position to roll up the British line.
We had a pizza break (with really excellent pizza, Pizza Rita's; look them up if you're ever in Spokane) and returned to fight it out again.
Game 2 Initial French Move
We kept the same sides for the second game, but Austin and Don switched brigades. Scott R. and I decided to try the other flank. Here is the view from the British lines. You can see my legere off to the right, preparing to move through the thicket and engage the British right.
Game 2 French Flank Attack Moves into Position
Under a heavy screen of skirmishers, I moved against the British left. Scott R.'s two brigades are to the right.
Game 2 Don Attacks!
With the brunt of the French attack again falling on Austin, Don threw one battalion forward to engage Scott R.'s rightmost brigade. Don wanted to press the attack home, but without orders to engage, his men had to satisfy themselves with long range skirmishing. Scott R.'s artillery was able to cause some damage to the British advanced battalion.
Game 2 The French Carry the Hill
Scott R. charged a British battalion with infantry, which was thrown back, then cavalry, which destroyed the British battalion. Meanwhile I issued my brigade engage orders and carried the hill. The French legere pushed back Austin's two other battalions and inflicted heavy losses.
Game 2 Austin Has a Rough Day
We had focused our main attacks on Austin's portion of the line both times. Here a peeved Austin reflects on the folly of containing French revolutionary fervor.
Game 2 Final Situation on the French Left
Here's a closer look at the French legere as they face Austin's last remaining battalion.
Game 2 Final Situation on the French Right
Scott R. had a strong skirmish screen and artillery on the right, and he had captured the ridge in the center. Don was moving to refuse his flank, but the French had a good position, and most of Scott R.'s troops had not suffered serious casualties.
Game 2 Don Surrenders
With the British line collapsing, Don decided to raise the white flag (or napkin). All five of us enjoyed the day. Jon's rules were easy to learn, and they gave a good result. The British were outnumbered and without cavalry, and the heavy legere skirmish screens gave the French a big advantage. Maybe the British can win this one with some better die rolls, but the day went to the French.
Jon umpired and took pictures. Austin and Don commanded the British, while Scott R. and I commanded the French. Click on any picture for a larger image.
Game 1 Initial SetupThe setup was the same for both games. The French had three brigades with five light and four line battalions, 1 regiment of light cavalry, and two sections of artillery. The two British brigades occupied the high ground with six battalions of infantry and four sections of artillery.
Game 1 The Whole TableThe French had a tough nut to crack. An advance right up the center would have to cover open ground devoid of any cover. Yet both British flanks were covered by terrain that would slow the French down and make it difficult to coordinate French attacks.
Game 1 Advance on the British Right / French LeftI commanded the largest French brigade and set out to pin the British right while Scott R. maneuvered against the British left. My legere battalions took a pounding from the British guns, but managed to keep Don's men occupied.
Game 1 French Attack the British LeftWhile I demonstrated, Scott R. sent a mixed brigade of infantry and cavalry on a long march against the British left. This left just three small French battalions facing the British line. Austin, in command of the British left, decided to attack! The British came down from their strong position, but the French infantry won the combat that ensued. As Austin's brigade fell back, Scott R.'s flanking force fell on the undefended guns. Here you can see French light cavalry taking the British leftmost battery.
Game 1 Heavy Skirmishing on the British LeftWhile Scott R. took Austin's position, I was heavily engaged with Don's British brigade. Here you can see the Corsican Rangers (95th Rifles) chewing up one of my legere battalions. Both regiments have skirmish screens deployed to their side. The preponderance of French skirmishers allowed us to disrupt many British battalions before the main lines ever engaged.
Game 1 Situation at the EndWith their left flank dissolving and their right under heavy pressure, the British commanders decided to call the game. Here you can see the overall situation. Don's British brigade, on the French left, was still largely intact. The 95th rifles were engaged in a firefight with a French battalion, one other battalion had been forced back but was rallying, and the third battalion still held its position on the ridge line. Austin's brigade, on the French right, was in rougher shape. The British Guards battalion, seen here in the open plain, had pushed back two French battalions, but a third French battalion was squarely on their flank while the two defeated battalions rallied and prepared to renew the advance. Austin's second battalion (with the Portuguese colors) had rallied, but had lost four of its six stands. Austin's third battalion had routed off the table. Scott's flanking force was in position to roll up the British line.
We had a pizza break (with really excellent pizza, Pizza Rita's; look them up if you're ever in Spokane) and returned to fight it out again.
Game 2 Initial French MoveWe kept the same sides for the second game, but Austin and Don switched brigades. Scott R. and I decided to try the other flank. Here is the view from the British lines. You can see my legere off to the right, preparing to move through the thicket and engage the British right.
Game 2 French Flank Attack Moves into PositionUnder a heavy screen of skirmishers, I moved against the British left. Scott R.'s two brigades are to the right.
Game 2 Don Attacks!With the brunt of the French attack again falling on Austin, Don threw one battalion forward to engage Scott R.'s rightmost brigade. Don wanted to press the attack home, but without orders to engage, his men had to satisfy themselves with long range skirmishing. Scott R.'s artillery was able to cause some damage to the British advanced battalion.
Game 2 The French Carry the HillScott R. charged a British battalion with infantry, which was thrown back, then cavalry, which destroyed the British battalion. Meanwhile I issued my brigade engage orders and carried the hill. The French legere pushed back Austin's two other battalions and inflicted heavy losses.
Game 2 Austin Has a Rough DayWe had focused our main attacks on Austin's portion of the line both times. Here a peeved Austin reflects on the folly of containing French revolutionary fervor.
Game 2 Final Situation on the French LeftHere's a closer look at the French legere as they face Austin's last remaining battalion.
Game 2 Final Situation on the French RightScott R. had a strong skirmish screen and artillery on the right, and he had captured the ridge in the center. Don was moving to refuse his flank, but the French had a good position, and most of Scott R.'s troops had not suffered serious casualties.
Game 2 Don SurrendersWith the British line collapsing, Don decided to raise the white flag (or napkin). All five of us enjoyed the day. Jon's rules were easy to learn, and they gave a good result. The British were outnumbered and without cavalry, and the heavy legere skirmish screens gave the French a big advantage. Maybe the British can win this one with some better die rolls, but the day went to the French.